مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - A case of scoliosis and mental retardation presenting with spontaneous pneumothorax

Abstract :

Scoliosis is generally defined as the curvature of the spine laterally on the frontal plane. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is generally seen in young men who are in second and third decades, after rupture of subpleural bleb. We reported a patient who had a scoliosis and mental retardation with spontaneous pneumothorax. Thirty-one years old male patient who had a mental retardation and severe scoliosis was admitted to the emergency service with complaint of shortness of breath. The patient s physical examination revealed no breath sounds on the right side. Total pneumothorax was seen on the right hemithorax and the convex part of the scoliosis was seen pointing to the right on posteroanterior (PA) chest radiography and computed tomography (CT) imaging of the thorax. The right tube thoracostomy was performed under anesthesia. Patient, who can not do adequate breathing exercise because of mental retardation, was treated with Gomco. When air leak from the chest tube stopped and PA chest radiography was expanse on the seventh day, it was pulled out and the patient was externed. Six months later recurrence was not observed. Spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with severe scoliosis that can lead to the development of cardiopulmonary disorders can be a life-threatening situation and urgent correction of this type of pneumothorax in patients can be life-saving.